Communications Intern
Nashville Public Radio, Chicago, IL, United States
About Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) was established in 1973 to serve the legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and statewide leader in proactively filling the void of legal representation, wraparound services, legal information and resources, and advocacy exclusively for low‑income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Any engagement with the criminal legal system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community's quality of life.
CGLA’s Mission, Purpose and Vision
Mission: We provide holistic legal services that include social support services and advocacy for individuals and communities negatively impacted by the criminal legal system.
Purpose: CGLA exists to remove barriers to equity in the criminal legal system.
Vision: A more just and equitable criminal legal system.
Communications & Storytelling Intern
Internship Overview
CGLA seeks a Communications & Storytelling unpaid intern to support the organization’s growing marketing and communications work. This internship offers a unique opportunity to help amplify the voices and stories of people impacted by the criminal legal system while gaining hands‑on experience in nonprofit communications, advocacy storytelling, and digital media strategy. The intern will work closely with the Communications Manager to support day‑to‑day communications execution across social media, email marketing, storytelling projects, and digital content management.
Key Responsibilities
Social Media & Digital Engagement
Draft captions and posts for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms
Assist with scheduling content and maintaining the editorial calendar
Engage with partner organizations by liking, commenting, and sharing relevant content
Monitor and save trending audio for potential social media reels
Upload videos and content to YouTube
Track and organize social media analytics
Content Creation & Storytelling
Draft social media content, short stories, and captions
Assist with monthly newsletter content
Support storytelling projects featuring clients, Leadership Council members, and community partners
Organize photos, videos, and testimonials for future storytelling campaigns
Assist with website content or blog updates
Email & Newsletter Support
Draft sections of monthly newsletters
Resend unopened emails through Mailchimp
Help track engagement and email analyticsFormat and organize email communications
Digital Asset Management
Upload photos and videos to SharePoint
Organize digital media libraries
Create and update Canva templates aligned with CGLA branding
Upload content into PowerPoint presentations
Periodically check website links for functionality
Communications Planning Support
Research relevant observances and awareness months
Brainstorm content ideas for campaigns
Assist in maintaining the communications editorial calendar
Compile analytics reports to support communications strategy
Preferred Skills
Interest in social justice, storytelling, advocacy, or nonprofit communications
Strong writing and communication skills
Familiarity with social media platforms
Experience with Canva, graphic design, or video editing (preferred)
Organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive
Comfortable asking questions and working independently
Interest in learning about communications strategy
Learning Opportunities
Nonprofit communications strategy
Advocacy storytelling and narrative development
Ethical storytelling practices when working with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system
Social media management and analytics
Email marketing and supporter engagement
Public speaking and message development
Media relations and media pitch writing
Digital asset management and brand consistency
Content planning through an editorial calendar
Summer Capstone Project: CGLA Arts & Archives
Preserving Stories. Advancing Justice.
Project Overview
As their culminating summer project, the Communications & Storytelling Intern will support the continued development of Cabrini Green Legal Aid’s Arts & Archives Exhibition — a living archive that captures the organization’s 50+ year legacy of advancing justice through legal advocacy, storytelling, and community power. This project uses art, storytelling, and the humanities to highlight CGLA’s work within the broader context of the U.S. criminal legal system, while amplifying the voices and lived experiences of individuals and communities impacted by criminalization, poverty, and systemic inequities. The intern will play a key role in helping document, organize, and expand CGLA’s storytelling archive, ensuring that the organization’s history, impact, and community narratives are preserved and accessible for advocacy, education, and fundraising.
Final Deliverables
A structured and organized digital storytelling archive
A curated collection of community stories and testimonials
Short‑form video and social media storytelling content
A highlight video showcasing the Arts & Archives initiative
An archive index or guide to support future use across teams
Internship Dates
Monday, June 1 – Friday, August 7 (10 Weeks)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) was established in 1973 to serve the legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and statewide leader in proactively filling the void of legal representation, wraparound services, legal information and resources, and advocacy exclusively for low‑income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system. Any engagement with the criminal legal system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community's quality of life.
CGLA’s Mission, Purpose and Vision
Mission: We provide holistic legal services that include social support services and advocacy for individuals and communities negatively impacted by the criminal legal system.
Purpose: CGLA exists to remove barriers to equity in the criminal legal system.
Vision: A more just and equitable criminal legal system.
Communications & Storytelling Intern
Internship Overview
CGLA seeks a Communications & Storytelling unpaid intern to support the organization’s growing marketing and communications work. This internship offers a unique opportunity to help amplify the voices and stories of people impacted by the criminal legal system while gaining hands‑on experience in nonprofit communications, advocacy storytelling, and digital media strategy. The intern will work closely with the Communications Manager to support day‑to‑day communications execution across social media, email marketing, storytelling projects, and digital content management.
Key Responsibilities
Social Media & Digital Engagement
Draft captions and posts for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms
Assist with scheduling content and maintaining the editorial calendar
Engage with partner organizations by liking, commenting, and sharing relevant content
Monitor and save trending audio for potential social media reels
Upload videos and content to YouTube
Track and organize social media analytics
Content Creation & Storytelling
Draft social media content, short stories, and captions
Assist with monthly newsletter content
Support storytelling projects featuring clients, Leadership Council members, and community partners
Organize photos, videos, and testimonials for future storytelling campaigns
Assist with website content or blog updates
Email & Newsletter Support
Draft sections of monthly newsletters
Resend unopened emails through Mailchimp
Help track engagement and email analyticsFormat and organize email communications
Digital Asset Management
Upload photos and videos to SharePoint
Organize digital media libraries
Create and update Canva templates aligned with CGLA branding
Upload content into PowerPoint presentations
Periodically check website links for functionality
Communications Planning Support
Research relevant observances and awareness months
Brainstorm content ideas for campaigns
Assist in maintaining the communications editorial calendar
Compile analytics reports to support communications strategy
Preferred Skills
Interest in social justice, storytelling, advocacy, or nonprofit communications
Strong writing and communication skills
Familiarity with social media platforms
Experience with Canva, graphic design, or video editing (preferred)
Organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive
Comfortable asking questions and working independently
Interest in learning about communications strategy
Learning Opportunities
Nonprofit communications strategy
Advocacy storytelling and narrative development
Ethical storytelling practices when working with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system
Social media management and analytics
Email marketing and supporter engagement
Public speaking and message development
Media relations and media pitch writing
Digital asset management and brand consistency
Content planning through an editorial calendar
Summer Capstone Project: CGLA Arts & Archives
Preserving Stories. Advancing Justice.
Project Overview
As their culminating summer project, the Communications & Storytelling Intern will support the continued development of Cabrini Green Legal Aid’s Arts & Archives Exhibition — a living archive that captures the organization’s 50+ year legacy of advancing justice through legal advocacy, storytelling, and community power. This project uses art, storytelling, and the humanities to highlight CGLA’s work within the broader context of the U.S. criminal legal system, while amplifying the voices and lived experiences of individuals and communities impacted by criminalization, poverty, and systemic inequities. The intern will play a key role in helping document, organize, and expand CGLA’s storytelling archive, ensuring that the organization’s history, impact, and community narratives are preserved and accessible for advocacy, education, and fundraising.
Final Deliverables
A structured and organized digital storytelling archive
A curated collection of community stories and testimonials
Short‑form video and social media storytelling content
A highlight video showcasing the Arts & Archives initiative
An archive index or guide to support future use across teams
Internship Dates
Monday, June 1 – Friday, August 7 (10 Weeks)
#J-18808-Ljbffr